Now Ian McKellen is Dumbledore?

According to a report in the NY Daily News, Ian McKellen ("The Lord of the Rings") is now a contender to take over Richard Harris’s role of Dumbledore for the third "Harry Potter" film. Christopher Lee was rumoured for the part last week, are we sure they just are’nt asking every Lord of the Rings actor and seeing who says yes? It’s quite possible we will see Sean Astin take on the role then?